TDs, Senators, and Councillors are amongst a chorus of voices expressing serious concern regarding the new SPHE curriculum after a “whistleblower interview” with a teacher revealed the explicit nature of what was shown to SPHE teachers in a DCU course as examples of materials for students between 12-15.
The video, which has garnered more than 400,000 views across social media platforms, reveals that the SPHE teacher’s course included, as examples of materials for students between 12-15, a graphic animation of masturbation, a ‘sex map’, and a lesson discussing “fisting” and “rimming”. The SPHE teacher who revealed the material, Mary Creedon, also expressed serious concern regarding the acceptance of gender ideology in the curriculum.
Senator Sharon Keogan responded to the video by saying that “every parent of a child aged 11,12,13 and 14 needs to watch this.”
Calling on Minister Norma Foley to resign, the Independent Senator said: “you are a thundering disgrace that this is allowed to happen under your watch. Stop sexualizing our children, stop passing the buck and take accountability for your role as minister.”
“The bravery of [SPHE teacher] Mary Creedon cannot be underestimated here. It takes such courage to come forward to shine a light on the truth. Thank you,” she added.
Aontú Councillor, Sarah O’Reilly, says that she has received numerous calls and messages from worried parents across Cavan Monaghan as a result of the “graphic and over sexualised content” proposed in the new SPHE curriculum.
“Claims from a secondary school teacher detailing graphic content intended for children as young as 12 years of age is an issue of major concern for me. It is completely inappropriate for this age group, and I share the apprehension of the many people across this constituency who have contacted me to express their grave disquiet about this,” she said.
“Many parents and educators alike feel that this material is clearly not suitable for young adolescents who are only beginning to navigate their way through their formative years. I believe it is vital that more parents are made aware of what their children are being exposed to in the classroom. Also, I know that many teachers feel uncomfortable with the prospect of teaching this material; they are deeply worried for their young pupils,” she said.
The Aontú Councillor said that the controversy raised “serious questions over the NGO’s that are involved in putting this curriculum together and who I believe have inordinate power”.
“I am urging parents of young teenage boys and girls to take an active role in understanding the changes in material for this new curriculum and do some research around it. I believe it is essential that they look into it themselves in a bid to be properly informed about what their children are being taught,” she said.
Independent Ireland TD, Michael Collins, also called on the Minister for Education “to immediately review and halt the rollout of the new Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum” saying it contained “inappropriate and explicit content that is deeply concerning for both parents and teachers alike.”
“Recent revelations have come to light through a video released by a teacher who taught SPHE for over 16 years. The video details explicit content shown to teachers during a DCU course designed to prepare them for teaching students aged 12 to 15m” he said.
“Constituents have contacted me about this and are absolutely appalled by the content. I will be raising this issue directly with the Minister for Education, Norma Foley,” he said.
Councillor Linda de Courcy also expressed her shock, stating, “I would be embarrassed and uncomfortable discussing these issues with other adults. How must our children feel? This content is entirely inappropriate, and it is unacceptable that it is being introduced to young, impressionable students.”
She also said that “many teachers and parents, have raised serious safeguarding concerns, particularly over the directive for students to create “class contracts,” asking them not to discuss the contents of the lesson outside the classroom.”
“These restrictions are seen as a violation of child safeguarding principles, and many believe that parents have been intentionally kept in the dark,” she said.
Natural Woman’s Council founder, Jana Lunden, who interviewed Ms Creedon, said that thousands of parents have now signed a petition calling for the explicit and inappropriate SPHE curriculum to be removed and reviewed.
“We’ve had so many parents contact us – and teachers too – who want to share their admiration for Mary for speaking up and having the courage to be a whistleblower,” she said. “Her long experience as a SPHE teacher, her obvious concern for school students, and her sincerity in wanting to provide a better classroom lesson is evident in the interview,” she said.
The campaigner said that the seriousness of the situation could not overstated because school students aged 12-15 were involved and the proposed classroom lessons were potentially harmful to young students whose parents were being “kept in the dark” about what was being taught in SPHE under the new curriculum.
Aontú’s Emer Tóibín also said that the Education Minister had “ignored the bulk of submissions from the public” on the SPHE curriculum, and called on her to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Education on the issue.
Can @NormaFoleyTD1 be brought before an Oireachtas Cmte next wk to explain the reasoning behind the SPHE curriculum for children, yes children aged 12-15.
— Cllr. Emer Tóibín (@UnityakaAontu) September 28, 2024
Can she explain why she ignored the bulk of submissions from the public
And why nobody is calling stop to this material https://t.co/rijHNoHtBz
Controversy has surrounded the SPHE curriculum since its first drafting, with schoolbooks based on the NCCA specifications containing ‘anti-Irish’ depictions of traditional families, and 8-page lessons on masturbation.